Mendon selectmen, treasurer candidate can't agree on job terms

With the departure of the town’s treasurer and collector this week, and a pass over by the selectmen’s top pick, town officials are scrambling to get someone in the position as soon as possible.

Morgan Rousseau/Daily News staff

With the departure of the town’s treasurer and collector this week, and a pass over by the selectmen’s top pick, town officials are scrambling to get someone in the position as soon as possible.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on March 12 to appoint resident Coleman Nee as the new treasurer and collector. However, selectmen said at a meeting Monday night that Nee and selectmen could not come to an agreement during salary negotiations last week.

“We were unable to come to an agreement,” Selectman Chairman Michael Goddard said Monday night.

The current treasurer Christine Kupstas announced in December that March 30 would be her last day on the job.

Nee, of 27 Providence St., has worked as the principal treasurer analyst for the biotech company Genzyme since 2005, where he said he handles about $50 million daily.

During his interview with selectmen, Nee said he wants to jump from working for Genzyme to working for Mendon, where he moved six months ago, because the skills he has gained as the company’s treasurer analyst translates to the Mendon position.

Attempts to reach Nee were unsuccessful.

Selectmen also interviewed two other candidates on March 12: Betty Clark MacLeay, of Bourne, who works as treasurer and collector in Dennis, and Frederick J. DuBois Jr., who for 11 years has worked at the state auditing office where he audits state agencies and vendors.

Selectmen said Monday night they may consider MacLeay and Dubois for the position if they were unable to come to an agreement with Nee and also have other candidates who could be interviewed on April 2.